COCKLING returned to the Dee estuary yesterday - once again throwing the fishermen into controversy.

COCKLING returned to the Dee estuary yesterday - once again throwing the fishermen into controversy.

Around 700 cocklers arrived at the Thurstaston beds in 200 cars and 180 boats, leading to fears that the stocks will be devastated before the harvesting ban resumes tomorrow

Conservationists say cockling should be banned because the shell-fish provides food to the Dee's protected wildfowl and wader population.

But fishermen argue that most cockles die from overcrowding and around &#xA3;2m worth of shellfish is being lost each year.

Adam King, senior coastal ranger for Wirral, said: "The number of fishermen we have seen on the first day alone has been a concern.

"It's purely unsustainable to have that many people working the beds.

"Allowing 700 people to fish will clear the beds out in days. The entire eco-system will suffer," he added.

Mr King explained that Wirral authorities are supporting a bid by the Environment Agency to limit the numbers of people who can harvest cockles to 50 per day. Presently, although the EA can regulate when the harvest can take place, it has no authority to limit permits.

David Sheaver, who took his children to Thurstaston to watch the traditional activity, said: "It wasn't at all as I expected.

"I thought it would be quite quaint, but it was rather more like a scramble to get the best bargains at the January sales."